In an image processing apparatus for determining whether input image data is identical with image data of a reference image or not and performing a process according to the result of the determination, input image data whose similarity to a reference image is not less than a predetermined first threshold value or encoded image data obtained by encoding the input image data is stored in an access limitation storage section to which only a specific user is accessible. This allows an administrator to easily check whether the result of the determination is appropriate or not, without requiring a larger and more complex structure.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: an input data obtaining section for obtaining input image data; a features extracting section for extracting features of the input image data; at least one of a storage section in which features of a reference image are stored and a reference image obtaining section for obtaining features of a reference image from an external device communicably connected with the image processing apparatus; a similarity calculation section for comparing the features of the input image data with the features of the reference image so as to calculate similarity between the input image data and the reference image; and a control section for controlling a process on the input image data in accordance with the similarity, the control section causing the input image data or encoded image data obtained by encoding the input image data to be stored in an access limitation storage section to which only a specific user is accessible, in a case where the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation section is not less than a predetermined first threshold value, a process input section which a request for a process on the input image data is input to, the control section prohibiting or limiting execution of the process on the input image data, in a case where the similarity is not less than a second threshold value that is predetermined to be not less than the first threshold value, and the control section permitting execution of the process on the input image data, in a case where the similarity is not less than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value.
2. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a user information storage section in which user information for specifying a user permitted to execute the process on the input image data even in a case where the similarity is not less than the second threshold value is stored, in the case where the similarity is not less than the second threshold value, the control section receiving an input of user information from the process input section, and determining whether user information identical with the user information input from the process input section exists in the user information storage section, and when the identical user information exists, the control section causing the input image data or the encoded image data to be stored in the access limitation storage section in such a manner that the input image data or the encoded image data is related to the user information, and the control section permitting execution of the process on the input image data.
3. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising a display section for displaying information to a user, in the case where the similarity is not less than the second threshold value, the control section causing the display section to display a message for urging the user to enter an instruction on whether to request execution of the process on the input image data or not, and when the user enters a request to execute the process from the process input section, the control section causing the display section to display a message for urging the user to enter user information.
4. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , further comprising a log generating section for generating log information regarding the input image data, the control section causing the input image data or the encoded image data, the user information, and the log information to be stored in the access limitation storage section in such a manner that the input image data or the encoded image data, the user information, and the log are related to one another.
5. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the access limitation storage section includes a first storage region and a second storage region, and in the case where the similarity is not less than the second threshold value, the control section causes input image data having been unprocessed or encoded image data obtained by encoding the unprocessed image data to be stored in the first storage region, and the control section causes input image data having been processed or encoded image data obtained by encoding the processed image data to be stored in the second storage region.
6. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the control section causes input image data having been processed or encoded image data obtained by encoding the processed input image data to be stored in the access limitation storage section in such a manner that user information is added to the processed input image data or the encoded image data or in such a manner that a file name including the user information is added to the processed input image data or the encoded image data.
7. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , wherein in a case where the similarity is not less than the second threshold value and less than a third threshold value that is predetermined to be larger than the second threshold value, when user information identical with the user information input from the process input section exists in the user information storage section, the control section causes the input image data or the encoded image data to be stored in the access limitation storage section in such a manner that the input image data or the encoded image data is related to the identical user information, and the control section permits execution of the process on the input image data, and in a case where the similarity is not less than the third threshold value, the control section prohibits execution of the process on the input image data.
8. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an encrypting section for generating encrypted image data obtained by encrypting the input image data or the encoded image data, in the case where the similarity is not less than the predetermined first threshold value, the control section causing the encrypted image data to be stored in the access limitation storage section.
9. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 8 , further comprising an encrypting key storage section in which encrypting key information for decrypting the encrypted image data is stored in such a manner that the encrypting key information is related to the encrypted image data.
10. The image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 9 , further comprising a communication section for transmitting image data to the external device, when the control section causes the communication section to transmit the encrypted image data to the external device and then receives a request for transmitting an encrypting key corresponding to the encrypted image data from the external device, the control section causing the communication section to transmit the encrypting key to the external device.
11. An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 ; and an image output section for forming an image corresponding to input image data on a printing material.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in which a program for causing an image processing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 to operate is stored, the program causing a computer to operate as each section of the image processing apparatus.
13. An image processing method, comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining input image data; (ii) extracting features of the input image data; (iii) obtaining features of a reference image; and (iv) comparing the features of the input image data with the features of the reference image so as to calculate similarity between the input image data and the reference image, a process on the input image data being controlled in accordance with the similarity, the image processing method further comprising the steps of: (v) determining whether the similarity calculated in the step (iv) is not less than a predetermined first threshold value or not; and (vi) causing the input image data or encoded image data obtained by encoding the input image data to be stored in an access limitation storage section to which only a specific user is accessible, in a case where it is determined in the step (v) that the similarity is not less than the first threshold value, inputting a request for a process on the input image data, the process on the input image data being controlled by: prohibiting or limiting execution of the process on the input image data, in a case where the similarity is not less than a second threshold value that is predetermined to be not less than the first threshold value, and permitting execution of the process on the input image data, in a case where the similarity is not less than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value.
14. An image processing system, comprising an image processing apparatus and a server communicably connected with the image processing apparatus, there being provided: an input data obtaining section for obtaining input image data; a features extracting section for extracting features of the input image data; a storage section in which features of a reference image are stored; a similarity calculation section for comparing the features of the input image data with the features of the reference image so as to calculate similarity between the input image data and the reference image; a control section for controlling a process on the input image data in accordance with the similarity; and an access limitation storage section to which only a specific user is accessible, the input data obtaining section, the features extracting section, the storage section, the similarity calculation section, the control section, and the access limitation storage section being divided into the image processing apparatus and the server, in a case where the similarity calculated by the similarity calculation section is not less than a predetermined first threshold value, the control section causing the input image data or encoded image data obtained by encoding the input image data to be stored in the access limitation storage section, a process input section which a request for a process on the input image data is input to, the control section prohibiting or limiting execution of the process on the input image data, in a case where the similarity is not less than a second threshold value that is predetermined to be not less than the first threshold value, and the control section permitting execution of the process on the input image data, in a case where the similarity is not less than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value.
15. The image processing system as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising an encrypting section for generating encrypted image data obtained by encrypting the input image data or the encoded image data, in the case where the similarity is not less than the predetermined first threshold value, the control section causing the encrypted image data to be stored in the access limitation storage section.
16. The image processing system as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising an encrypting key storage section in which encrypting key information for decrypting the encrypted image data is stored in such a manner that the encrypting key information is related to the encrypted image data.
17. The image processing system as set forth in claim 16 , when the control section causes the encrypted image data to be transmitted from one of the image processing apparatus and the server that includes the access limitation storage section to another apparatus and then receives a request for transmitting an encrypting key corresponding to the encrypted image data from said another apparatus, the control section causing the encrypting key to be transmitted to said another apparatus.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 26, 2008
October 23, 2012
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